Tips for Transitioning to Your First Year of Medical School

You’ve finally arrived at your first year of medical school. However, there are some things you should consider before you begin the most difficult years of your education. This is a time when many students reevaluate their priorities and decide if they might want to pursue something else. Once you have made the firm decision to stick to this path there are a few ways you can easily transition into your first year of medical school.

Top 5 Tips for Transition to Your First Year of Medical School

Psychological Preparation
Medical school will mostly likely be the toughest 4 years of your entire academic career. The best ways to prepare for this type of stress is by talking with students already enrolled in courses and get their perspective on the matter or talk with professionals that have already been through this stage in their life. You can gain valuable insight by learning what to expect as far as course load, school/life balance, and any other helpful advice you can think to ask.

The Team System
Your first year of medical school is often considered a radical departure from the system you’re used to in undergraduate studies. During medical school, you will work together with your classmates to perform important tasks and to acclimate into the conditions seen in most hospitals. Remember, it’s going to be a group effort, each of your fellow medical students and yourself will fill in the gaps of knowledge that you lack in order achieve success. Working in such groups has been statically proven to increase learning and retention rates for students. Under the supervision of a faculty member, you’ll have all the tools necessary to grow and develop your skills in a nurturing environment.

Study the Materials
Many students find it beneficial to acquire a list of the reading materials for your first year of medical school before starting. While you probably won’t be able to grasp a lot of the concepts within the text without the guidance of a mentor, you can easily attain a firm grasp of the underlying elements presented in each chapter and have valuable knowledge for your first year of medical school.

Focus on the Now
While many exciting and encapsulating choices will be coming up in the near future, like what specialty you should choose and which hospital you want to apply for residency, it’s best not to get distracted from your studies, as this is still quite a ways away. You need to remember that your primary goal is completing your studies with excelling grades. You shouldn’t be pinned down by decisions of the future because you don’t really have the information to make these decisions yet. Make sure that your studies come first then make major decisions as they come.